BYD’s Yangwang U7 Challenges Ferrari with Luxury Electric Sedan
Chinese automaker BYD has begun deliveries of its flagship Yangwang U7 electric luxury sedan, boasting impressive performance and features. This move comes as Ferrari delays its second electric vehicle (EV) launch due to weak demand.
Ferrari Delays Second EV Launch
Ferrari is pushing back the release of its second electric vehicle by at least two years, with sources suggesting it won’t arrive before 2028. Reuters reports that sluggish demand for electric sports cars is behind this decision. One source claimed that “real, sustainable demand is non-existent for an electric sports car.”
BYD’s Yangwang U7: A Powerful Competitor
In contrast, BYD has officially started delivering its Yangwang U7 this month. The U7 is a four-motor electric sedan powerhouse that delivers up to 1,287 horsepower and can sprint from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.9 seconds. It features a massive 135.5 kWh battery, providing a CLTC range of nearly 450 miles.
The Yangwang U7 is equipped with BYD’s advanced “God’s Eye A” ADAS system, incorporating three Lidars, five radars, 13 high-definition cameras, and 12 ultrasonic radars. This system offers smart driving and safety features, including Navigate on Autopilot (NOA) for city and highway use.
Luxury Features and Pricing
The U7’s interior features a “Star Ring Cockpit” design with BYD’s DiLink smart cockpit system and DeepSeek AI. The cabin includes a 12.8″ curved center display and a 23″ driver display, with additional 6″ entertainment screens for front and rear passengers.
Priced starting at 628,000 yuan (about $87,000), the Yangwang U7 is significantly more affordable than Ferrari’s offerings. The four-seater variant costs 708,000 yuan (roughly $98,500), still about half the cost of the most affordable Ferrari.
Market Impact
This development challenges Ferrari’s assumptions about demand for luxury electric sports cars. Other Chinese EV makers, like Xiaomi, have also shown significant sales success. BYD’s Yangwang brand delivered its 10,000th vehicle in April, following the launch of its first model, the U8, in September 2023.
As the electric vehicle market continues to evolve, the success of BYD’s Yangwang U7 will be closely watched, potentially proving that there is indeed demand for high-performance electric luxury cars at various price points.
